Klarinet Archive - Posting 000056.txt from 1997/09

From: Jrykorten@-----.com
Subj: Re: Springing the blues
Date: Tue, 2 Sep 1997 10:35:01 -0400

Actually, from what I understand, the blueing process protects the metal from
rusting due to atmospheric moisture. It has nothing to do with spring tension
or hardness.

The hardness is achieved by tempering the steel (a heating and cooling
process that affects the crystalline structure of the metal).

The blueing process is a surface oxidation that prevents regular rust. There
are other methods that work as well, such as gold plating as Leblanc does.

Jerry Korten
NYC

In a message dated 97-08-31 06:03:47 EDT, Leo writes:

<<
>Blue steel, as in blue steel springs, is steel that has been treated with
>either hot or cold bluing. The same stuff they use on guns to help retard
>rusting. It is only a finish.

It is not only a finish. The methode of hardening the spring be the cause of
hardening the surface, and
leave the core tough. The reson is that the spring has the elasticity of a
full hardend spring, but the
toughness of a unhardend spring. In other words, it wil not break as fast. as
a hardend spring, and it wil
not bend as easy as a unhardend spring.

Leo (the spelling crack) van Zantvoort
>>